Featured photos

Canada got the last hurrah at the Celebration of Light Saturday evening, closing the three-night event with a winning display. Canada was declared the winner of the event, with Brazil and China finishing second and third, respectively.

Yeezus walks: Kanye West's Vancouver concert 'postponed' for second time

Kanye West's Halloween night show in Vancouver was postponed a second time.

Photograph by: Getty Images Files
, Vancouver Sun

An Edmonton couple who spent more than $3,000 on separate failed trips to see mercurial musician Kanye West are just two of the thousands of fans riled by the second same-day cancellation of his Vancouver show in recent weeks.

Thursday night’s concert was called off due to an accident causing irreparable damage to the Yeezus Tour’s massive video screen, making it “impossible to put on the show,” according to West’s record company.

One week earlier, fans were devastated by a last-minute postponement, which The Sun later learned was due to bad planning at the start of an ambitious North American tour.

This latest letdown had out-of-town concertgoers taking to social media in droves to vent about spending hundreds of dollars to once again be cut out of a night with West and his opener, vaunted lyricist Kendrick Lamar.

Edmonton university student Thuhuong Nguyen, 20, and her boyfriend had just checked in to their Richmond hotel Thursday when they found out that a truck carrying the 18-metre oval LED screen got in an accident on its way up from Monday’s concert in Los Angeles.

The screen and truss used to hold it were damaged “beyond repair,” according to a news release from West’s record company.

“Yesterday we were actually talking about it because he just cancelled the Anaheim show for (Friday),” Nguyen told The Sun Thursday. “We were like, ‘If the concert’s cancelled, we’re gonna be so mad because we paid so much money just to come back.’”

Their losses include $900 floor seats, $1,000 for five nights’ accommodation at the River Rock Casino and $2,400 for four return flights from Edmonton.

Making matters worse, Thursday night’s cancelled gig was her third failed attempt to see West, after he cancelled an Edmonton appearance a few years back.

The show was intended to be an anniversary gift from her boyfriend.

“All I gotta say is, I’m really disappointed in Kanye,” she said.

A Rogers Arena spokesperson was unavailable for comment.

Pacific National Exhibition spokeswoman Laura Ballance, who has been involved with many large concerts, said there are two types of cancellations. When the artist does something like not show up, they are at fault, and may be found liable for incurred losses if no date is rescheduled. Cancellations due to “weather, venue problems or technical problems” are different and “I think fans treat that differently and the business side of the industry treats it differently,” she added.

“None of these organizations are small. Whether it’s Rogers Arena or Kanye’s company, they’ll all be well insured,” Ballance said. “As with any situation where you have something that doesn’t fulfil ... that’s what you have insurance for.”

In the release explaining the second cancellation, his record company Island Def Jam said: “West will not compromise on bringing the show, as it was originally envisioned and designed, to his fans,” and that the “Yeezus Tour will be postponed until these essential pieces can be reengineered and refabricated.”

Upcoming shows in Anaheim, Denver and Minneapolis were also cancelled, with further details “to be announced shortly,” the release stated.

The rapper called off the initial Oct. 20 date just hours before showtime due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

Behind the scenes, Seattle stagehands told The Sun that the intricate set — which includes a 10-metre-high mountain that a mock Jesus ascends — was a logistical nightmare that needed time and practice to put up and take down.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.